Born in the Blue

I don't plan to post many, or any, of my articles on this blog, but since my latest assignment was to write a more personal "First Person" column, and I (shockingly) wrote a bit about Brady, I thought I'd share.  The real thing is found on page 9 in Tar Heels Today.

I once read somewhere that the average American makes about 35,000 decisions each day.  Some of these decisions carry a greater burden than others.  On the morning of September 3, decisions of great importance were being made in my household: decisions about what to wear.  It was game day, after all. 

The difference between this day and the many game days before was that it wasn’t only my wardrobe I had to choose from, but the ever-expanding one of my newborn son.  The morning of the game, my husband proudly carried our 3 month old son Brady down the stairs donning a long-sleeve Carolina blue football jersey.  I asked if he had checked the weather forecast or if he just thought a good sweat would do his son good.  After a few snapshots, Brady was changed into a more practical UNC onesie and the jersey was packed away for a late October game.   

We left the house two hours prior to kick-off and headed to campus.  We had the opportunity to park adjacent to the stadium, but opted for a lot near the Smith Center.  For me, game day is not just about what happens inside the stadium but also what happens outside.  We enjoyed a nice stroll to Kenan, passing by the tailgates, dodging footballs and salivating as we passed tables set up with everything from Bojangles Biscuits to fruit salad. 

It may have been 90 degrees outside, but with a 15 pound child strapped to me, by the time we made it to Kenan, it felt like triple digits.  I had eagerly anticipated my first visit to the Blue Zone, and the sweet relief that the blast of air-conditioning provided did not disappoint.

I have enjoyed many afternoon games in section 118 basking, or more accurately baking, in the sun.  More of those games will certainly be in my future, but on this day, I felt privileged to enjoy all the creature comforts the new Blue Zone had to offer.   I have spent the last five years working at the Rams Club and over the past year, I’ve spent countless hours focused on the Blue Zone: discussing the angles, debating the merits, and anticipating the finished product.  When I waddled into the Blue Zone several months earlier wearing the required hard hat and closed-toed shoes, it was hard to imagine that the concrete and wood beams surrounding me would be transformed into the amazing facility that it has become. 

The impressive performance on the field against James Madison was mirrored by the first-class service provided in the Blue Zone.  Between the sunscreen in the bathroom and the cheering staff as we exited, there was an attention to detail often lacking in a facility’s grand opening. 

I spent time in the Concourse Club and the place was hopping.  You would be hard pressed to find wine and cheese.  What you could find were children with ice cream covering their face and parents enjoying a cold beverage. You would find a sea of blue and despite the distractions of the past few months, you would see a great number of Tar Heels genuinely excited to finally be watching some football.   

Maybe you’re a Tar Heel convert like me and can fondly remember your first Carolina football experience.  Or maybe your parents, like Brady’s, dragged you to your first baseball game at 3 weeks old and your first football game at 3 months old.   You don’t remember your first Carolina game because you grew up a Tar Heel.  You didn’t have to make decisions about what to wear because you were born wearing the blue.